Sheet-piling.



PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

G. WEBSTER.

SHEET FILING. APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1906.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1906.

Application filed January 27, 1906. Serial No. 298,223.

zen of the United States, residing-at York,

Pennsylvania, have invented certain Imrovements in Sheet-Piling, of which the fol-- owing is a specification.

My invention relates to sheet-piling composed of alternating and overlapping bars, strips, or plates, (hereinafter for convenience termed bars,) the purpose of my invention being to so construct sheet-piling of this char acter that it can be made tight and kepttight. In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, represent sections of sheet-piling composed of metal channel-bars and illustrating various embodiments of my invention. Figs. ,5 to 7, inclusive, are similar views'illustrating the application of the invention to wooden piling instead of to metallic sheetpiling and Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a special embodiment of my invention.

A serious objection to ordinary sheet-pilin whether of wood or metal,-is the difiicu ty of securing and maintaining a perfectly water-tight joint between the bars of which the piling is composed, and my invention has been devised for the purpose of overcoming this objection.

In carrying out my invention I drive the bars 1 1, &c., which constitute the main portion of the piling, as closely together as is compatible with the insertion between them of the bolts 2 2*, &c., which secure in place the joint-closers 3.

. In metal piling the main bars are preferably of channel form and consist either of I- beams 1 or U-beams 1, as shown, since it is advisable that the joint-closers 3 3*, &c., which extend from top to bottom of the bars 1 1, &c., shall engage with flanges 4 of the main bars and shall have projecting flanges 5 overlapping said flanges 4, the adjoining faces of the two flanges being correspondingly beveled, so that in drawing the joint-closer onto the flanges of adj oinin main bars there will be a wedge-like action w 'ch will insure a close contact of the meeting faces of the flanges 4 and 5 in order to produce a water-tight joint, it being understood that the bars 1 1, &c., are prevented from being drawn toward each other by the earth between them. In some cases sheet-packing 6 of any available character may be inserted between the adjoining faces of the flanges 4 and 5.

Various 'means may be employed for insuring the desired close contact of the jointclosers with those portions of the main bars which they overlap, and such means may be disposed at any desired intervals throughout the depth of the piling. In Fig. 1 a securingbolt 2 has a hook-shaped T-head 7 for engag ing the inner flanges of the I-beams 1, the bolt passing through the joint-closing bar 3 and being threaded at its outer end for the reception of a nut 9, which bears upon the outer face of said bar 3, the tightening of this nut upon the bolt causing close contact of the meeting faces of the flanges 4 and 5 to secure a water-tight joint in the first place,- and further tightening of the nut providing for the maintenance of this water-tight joint if the parts should subsequently work loose.

The bolt 2, Fig. 2, passes through joint closing bars 3, engaging with both the inner and outer fla es 4 of the I-b'eams 1, the bolt being provide at one end with a head 10 and at the other end with a nut 9, adapted to the threaded portion of the bolt, or said bolt may be threaded and provided with a nut at each end. The bolt 2, Fi 3, passes through the joint-closing bar 3 an has a head 10 bearing upon the outer face of the same, the threaded portion of the bolt being adapted to a nut 1 1, forming an integral portion of a bar or yokeplate 12, which engages the inner flanges of the I-bars. Flat bars, yokes, or plates may, if desired, be used in place of the hooked or flanged elements on the inner side and sometimes on both the inner and outer sides of the main bars of the piling, one instance of such use being illustrated at 13 in Fig. 4, and such flat bars can always be used in connection with the flat sides of the U-bars 1.

The main features of my invention may also be embodied in sheet-piling composed of wood, and in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated several different forms of j ointclosers in connection with such wooden sheetpiling, these joint-closers corresponding to those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with only such modifications as are required by the different character of the piling.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a special form of joint-closer 3 which in addition to the flanges 5 has an internal rib or series of bosses 15, fitting snugly between the flat faces of the flanges 4 and serving as a means of properly s acing the same and also as a nut for the b0 t 2. A similar device may be used on the inner side of the piling, or such inner device instead of constituting a bar extending from top to bottom of the piling may simply consist of a plurality of short crossbars. In this case the bolt 2 may have a right-hand thread at one end and a left-hand thread at the otherend. Hence on turning the bolt in one direction the joint-closer will be tightened, and on turning the bolt in the opposite direction said joint-closer will be loosened. The turning of the entire series of bolts from the top of the piling may be simultaneously effected by providing each bolt with a spurinion 16, meshing with a vertical rack 17 a ongside of the same and extending from top to bottom of the piling.

I am aware that it has been proposed to construct metallic sheet-piling composed of alternating channel-bars with interlocking or overlapping flanges but so far as I am aware I am the first to provide means for combining the main bars of the piling with joint-closers having adjustable securing devices wherebythey can not only be made ti ht in the first place, but can be subsequently retightened in order to stop any leaks which may develop after the piles have been driven.

I claim 1. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, with j oint-closers and adjustable tightening devices for the latter, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, said bars having projecting edge flanges, with joint-closers having flanges overlapping those of the bars, and adjustable tightening devices for said joint-closers, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, said bars having flanges with beveled faces, joint-closers having flanges overlapping those of the bars, and beveled to correspond therewith, and adj ustable tightening devices for said joint-closers, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, with joint-closers having spacing-pieces projecting therefrom and between the bars, and adjustable tightening devices for said joint-closers, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, with joint-closers having spacing-pieces projecting therefrom and between the bars, and adjustable tight ening devices for said joint-closers, said tightening devices also having spacingieces projecting between the bars, substantisilly as specified.

6. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheet-piling, with joint-closers and adjustable tightening devices therefor having as elements bolts with pinions thereon, and a vertical rack engaging said pinions, substantially as specified.

7. The combination of the successive bars of a section of sheetpiling, with j oint-closers and adjustable tightening devices therefor having as elements, a bolt, engaging the jointcloser, and a nut forming part of a yoke or bar which bears upon the opposite face of the bars of the piling, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUY WEBSTER.

Witnesses 1 WM. E. SHUPE, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

